Entertainment For Lively Minds
Classic Albums - What defines a Classic
Who/what determines whether an album is a sure-fire copper-bottomed Classic. An how ,long does it have to exist before this status is bestowed upon it (how long before I can refer to Norton Folgate as a Classic?)
Also, is it possible for an album to be both seminal and a classic?
I've seen the first Clash album referred to as seminal and London Calling as classic, but seldom (if ever) the other way round.
A Definition:
Seminal - because it represents a shift or change in attitude/taste/sound
Classic - because it will be revered and spoken of for years to come
Critically Acclaimed - Marketing-speak for trying to shift more units of a potentially under-performing album
Is this another "what makes a song great" type question, where the answer is: "if that's what you think it is, then it is"?
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Norton Folgate
You can start referring to Norton Folgate as a classic right now. Best album of the year by a country mile.
The only thing I know about classics...
is that they're not written in attics.
Songs from under the floorboards qualify though.
I'm sure there's a time frame involved in determining a classic - it would appear to be all about standing the test of time. Not sure about the actual threshold though.
Critically acclaimed: one person somewhere said something nice about it and allows the marketing department to make a desperate grab for credibility. "Not completely crap" - Railway Station Toilet Wall.
Another thought: do the opinions of critics quoted on ads actually affect sales? I might read a whole review and think that something is worth checking out (e.g. the aforementioned Norton Folgate - the glowing Word review inspired me to buy it, and I have no regrets) but a few five star ratings on a quarter page ad? Not that I can remember...
What is the definition of a quintessential album?
You have explained the "classic" and "seminal" which are both overused rock journalist cliches.
Whst defines a "quintessential" album - another over used piece of lazy journalism.
The ultimate album must surely be...
"A seminal, quintessential, classic, sophomore set"!
Any ideas what that might be?
The answer is "A Pagan Place" by The Waterboys
Er, "seminal"...
...means that it plants a seed.
You can be seminal but not classic - for example the records of Doctor Feelgood - and classic but not seminal - an example being Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks". "Sophomore" is just inexcusable.
It's all in the name
I've been thinking about this - can you objectively say something is great (or classic or seminal or whatever word you want to use). The best answer I've come up with is that if you can say the name of the album to anyone with a vague interest in music and don't feel like you have to add "by ......" then it has to have reached a certain status.
So Revolver and Blonde On Blonde, for instance, are classic albums, while Come On Over by Shania Twain and Millenium by the Backstreet Boys, both of which sold millions and millions, are not.
The missing word here is...
... "Recognised", as in "Recognised Classic." We all have our personal favourites that we might refer to as "classic" within our own parameters, but when you're talking about a wider music-listening public, the criteria shift somewhat.
I've always considered "classic-ness" to be a combination of
1) being influential/inspirational,
2) altering the musical landscape,
3) being representative/symbolic of the time & place,
4) being a high point of its type,
5) becoming a part of the culture,
6) standing the test of time.
Not many classic albums will fulfill all of these, but they'll probably be able to tick 3 or 4 boxes, and number 6 is probably a given. Also, some may be owe their status to being overwhelming in just 1 or 2 areas (e.g. The Velvet Underground would be nearly all 1, with a dash of 3 & 5.)
There's always of danger of getting too analytical of course, just enjoy the music!